"Do you remember the first time?" sang Jarvis Cocker in 1994. If the answer is yes, you may have wanted to forget about the '90s: jogging pants, tinted sunglasses and bandanas helped cement the decade as the era this style has forgotten.
Despite this informal assessment, the revival of the
1990s came at full speed.
If that thought
scares you more than Se7en's final scene, fear not. They say flashback is at
8:20 PM, and luckily that means we can now see through the 'eclectic' bang and
questionable hairstyles to pick out the right things buried under those khaki
cuts.
"There's a lot of nostalgia right now for things like faded denim, bobs, and oversized suits," says Jenny Kennedy, a stylist who has dressed A $ AP Rocky, Jared Leto and Pharrell. "In part, that's because a lot of the people who run brands now are kids from the 90s."
It's easy to dismiss the decade, but for all its obvious
flaws, the '90s were up to the challenge when it came to dressing with
personality. "It was very tribal and had a lot to do with self-expression,
maybe that's why it resonates so well today," adds Kennedy.
Here, we've rounded up six '90s trends that are relevant right now, along with some simple tips for using them without looking like you've been the other way around.
6 KEY TRENDS OF THE 1990s
GRUNGE
Is grunge really gone? It's been almost 30 years since
Kurt Cobain burst onto the scene,
fully formed and resplendent in a shaggy sweater and patched
jeans, and yet it's easy to imagine him commanding the stage at this year's
Glastonbury or walking the red carpet in Los Angeles. Grammy.
While the word itself was once interchangeable with grubby,
the modern take is all about technical cuts and luxurious textures. Hip-hop
music mavericks A $ AP Rocky, Kanye West and Travis Scott wear their Nirvana
influences on their plaid sleeves, pairing oversized flannel shirts with ripped
jeans and leather.
Another easy way to go grunge is one of Cobain's signature
mohair fabrics. A cardigan can be worn over an open shirt and T-shirt, or
paired with corduroy for true tactile comfort. Finally, add the DGAF attitude.
The best grunge clothing for men
PREPPY
It's not uncommon in today's menswear districts to see Carlton Banks as an icon of subversive style. Everyone knows they were destined to idolize their cooler cousin Will, but in hindsight, it's Carlton's laid-back college style that grabs more than the prince's low-cut jumpsuit.
The button-down Ivy League style has endured (since the
1950s, actually) in large part because it's made up of timeless staples - think
cashmere sweaters, navy blazers, and leather boat shoes.
To embrace the trend without screaming in disguise, mix a
preppy piece or two with contemporary sportswear. A cable knit sweater with
skinny navy chinos is trendy when worn with bright white tennis shoes and a
well-fitting bomber jacket. Similarly, varsity jackets can be paired with rugby
jerseys or polo shirts in an all-American palette of red, white, and blue. Just
make sure to keep your necklaces low.
Preppy clothing for men
DOUBLE DENIM
Acid wash. Monkey. JNCO. It's fair to say that denim took
its toll in the 1990s. Still, one trend that has managed to persist is denim
over denim.
The Canadian tuxedo is not an easy look to wear, but
overall, double jean is a look that works on all shapes and sizes, if you
remember to keep it simple.
The general rule of thumb is to aim for the contrast between
the rooms. Again, we are in the 90s, nobody follows the rules. While darker
denim generally works well in the lower half when paired with a medium wash top
jacket, feel free to wear lighter shades. Those who are wary of the full
Timberlake might consider wearing an indigo jacket with faded jeans or a
chambray shirt tucked into navy chinos.
LARGE SIZE ADJUSTMENTS
Small sunglasses aside, bigger ones were always better in the '90s, and everyone from Tupac to Tony Blair sported top figures (with varying degrees of success). The oversized has given way to everything skinny over the years.